2 Samuel 5:25 kjv
And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
2 Samuel 5:25 nkjv
And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.
2 Samuel 5:25 niv
So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
2 Samuel 5:25 esv
And David did as the LORD commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.
2 Samuel 5:25 nlt
So David did what the LORD commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
2 Samuel 5 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Josh 1:7-9 | Be strong and very courageous...do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may prosper... | Prosperity follows careful obedience to God's law. |
| Deut 28:1-14 | If you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God...blessings will come. | Blessings and victory are promised for obedience. |
| 1 Sam 7:10-14 | The LORD thundered with a loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into confusion. | God's direct intervention in defeating the Philistines. |
| 1 Chr 14:16 | And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army. | Parallel account emphasizing David's obedience and victory. |
| Ps 18:37-40 | I pursued my enemies and overtook them...I utterly consumed them...You armed me with strength for the battle. | David's poetic reflection on God granting him victory over foes. |
| Ps 44:3 | For by their own sword they did not possess the land, nor did their own arm save them; but Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your face. | God, not human might, secures victory and salvation. |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. | Trust in God over military strength. |
| Is 30:21 | Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it." | God's divine guidance to His people. |
| Jn 14:15 | If you love me, you will keep my commandments. | Love for God demonstrated through obedience. |
| Jn 15:10 | If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love. | Abiding in God's love linked to obedience. |
| Rom 6:16 | Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are slaves of the one whom you obey? | The nature of obedience: serving either sin or righteousness. |
| 2 Cor 10:4-5 | For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds...taking every thought captive to obey Christ. | Spiritual warfare and the importance of obedience to Christ. |
| Eph 6:10-17 | Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. | Equipping for spiritual battle through God's provision. |
| Heb 11:32-34 | ...David...who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises...became mighty in war... | David as an example of faith leading to conquest. |
| 1 Cor 15:57 | But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. | Christ as the ultimate source of victory over enemies (death/sin). |
| Col 2:15 | He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. | Christ's triumph over spiritual forces of evil. |
| 1 Pet 1:2 | ...obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood... | Obedience as a mark of the elect, connected to Christ's work. |
| Rev 12:11 | And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. | Believer's victory over the accuser through Christ's sacrifice and faithfulness. |
| 2 Chr 20:15 | ...Do not be afraid or dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. | God fights for His people, emphasizing divine intervention. |
| Zech 4:6 | Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. | Victory attributed to God's Spirit, not human strength. |
2 Samuel 5 verses
2 Samuel 5 25 Meaning
2 Samuel 5:25 states that David fully obeyed the LORD's command to strike down the Philistines, executing a decisive victory that stretched from Geba to Gezer. This verse emphasizes David's faithful submission to God's specific instruction, leading to the complete defeat of Israel's enemies, thereby establishing his kingdom under divine authority and demonstrating the LORD's power through his obedient servant.
2 Samuel 5 25 Context
2 Samuel 5:25 follows David's anointing as king over all Israel (5:1-5) and his successful capture of Jerusalem, making it the capital (5:6-10). The Philistines, traditional enemies who had previously oppressed Israel and challenged their very existence, responded to David's consolidation of power by launching two major invasions. The first invasion (2 Sam 5:17-21) resulted in a clear victory for David at Baal-Perazim, directly attributed to the LORD. This second Philistine attack (2 Sam 5:22-25) is more insidious, necessitating specific divine guidance for victory. Before this verse, the LORD gives David an unusual and highly specific military command in 2 Samuel 5:23-24: he must not attack directly but wait for "the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees," signaling God going before him. Verse 25 confirms David's absolute and immediate obedience to this divine, non-conventional strategy, resulting in a decisive and far-reaching victory over Israel's persistent foe. This event further solidifies David's reign as divinely ordained and empowered.
2 Samuel 5 25 Word analysis
- So David did: וַיַּעַשׂ דָּוִד (wayyaʿaś Dawid). "Did" (עָשָׂה, asah) is a verb denoting action, execution, or performance. Here, it signifies David's complete and immediate obedience to the prior command. It underscores his active participation, not passive waiting. David's kingship is defined by his responsive relationship with God.
- as the LORD commanded him: כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּהוּ יְהוָה (kaʾăšer ṣiwwahu YHWH).
- as: This conjunction signifies adherence to a prior directive, exact compliance.
- the LORD: יְהוָה (YHWH), the tetragrammaton, is the covenant name of God, revealing His personal and relational involvement with Israel. This highlights that the command came from the sovereign Creator God, not a mere human advisor.
- commanded him: (צוה, tsavah) refers to an authoritative and specific instruction. It's not a suggestion but a directive from the ultimate authority. The verb often indicates God giving instructions or setting boundaries. David did not deviate or question, despite the unconventional nature of the command.
- and he struck down: וַיַּךְ (wayyak). This verb (from נָכָה, nakah) means "to smite," "strike," "kill," or "defeat decisively." It emphasizes the totality and violence of the defeat. The Philistines were not merely repelled; they were crushed. This reflects God's complete victory over the enemies of His people.
- the Philistines: פְּלִשְׁתִּים (Pəlištîm). This was the formidable and persistent enemy of Israel throughout the Judges and early Monarchy. Their defeat was critical for Israel's security and sovereignty. They represent the forces opposed to God's plan and people, embodying a constant challenge to the nascent kingdom of God. The victory here is a theological statement against their gods (e.g., Dagon) and their perceived invincibility.
- from Geba to Gezer: מִגֶּבַע עַד גֶּזֶר (miGevaʿ ʿad Gezer).
- This is a merism, a figure of speech where two contrasting parts represent the whole. It signifies the full geographical extent of David's victory over the Philistines. Geba was a town in Benjamin, often associated with Israelite control, possibly signifying a starting point within Israelite territory or a strategic Philistine outpost. Gezer was a major fortified Canaanite city on the Philistine border, which likely functioned as a key Philistine stronghold at this time. Its capture would have been a significant achievement. This phrase implies a comprehensive rout, extending across their traditional operational territories.
2 Samuel 5 25 Bonus section
The phrase "from Geba to Gezer" highlights the strategic importance of this victory beyond just driving off an invasion. Control over this region would significantly weaken Philistine influence and open up crucial trade routes. This particular command and victory serve as a model of leadership under divine authority: David, despite his military prowess, submitted entirely to God's specific and unusual guidance. This contrasts sharply with King Saul, whose disobedience regarding divine commands often led to his downfall. This episode, therefore, not only showcases God's faithfulness to David but also serves as a crucial theological polemic against the strength of Philistine idols and the self-sufficiency of human military strategy, emphasizing that the battle's success ultimately belongs to the LORD alone. The unusual nature of the "sound of marching in the balsam trees" (mentioned in 5:24) served as an unmistakable sign of God's direct, personal, and miraculous involvement, dispelling any notion that the victory was solely due to David's skill.
2 Samuel 5 25 Commentary
2 Samuel 5:25 culminates David's second decisive victory over the Philistines, cementing his divinely appointed rule. The core message lies in David's unqualified obedience to the LORD's specific, unusual command. This was not a general directive but a precise instruction involving an unconventional battle strategy. David's immediate compliance highlights his faith and complete trust in God's leadership over military convention. The result—the decisive striking down of the formidable Philistines across their territory (from Geba to Gezer)—demonstrates God's active presence and power on behalf of His obedient servant. This victory serves not just as a historical event but as a theological statement: the LORD is the true warrior who fights for His people, confirming His covenant with David and solidifying Israel's security against a perennial foe. It foreshadows Christ, the ultimate Davidic King, whose obedient death on the cross secured ultimate victory over the spiritual enemies of humanity—sin, death, and the devil.